“My background is deep and set in deep time, and in a narrow space.”

Possessive parents rarely live long enough to see the fruits of their selfishness.

Everything I have ever written has been in the same chair, in the same room.

Ive learned never to try and force words to come.

… I had never given much credence to the phenomenon of “writer’s block”.

It isn’t like that at all. It may be more difficult now, and take longer than when I started to write, but there’s a great, empty warehouse out there looking for simple talent.

My great-grandfather was a self-taught man, and his library was extraordinary. I read the lot.

My attitude is that if anybody of any age wants to read a book, let them, but I do think that no child would want to read Boneland.

At this level, only images connect. And here, story becomes symbol; symbol is myth. And myth is truth.

It’s where I keep all my things. Get a lot of compliments on this.

Hitting the gym to release stress is not nearly as effective as hitting the people that cause the stress to begin with.

If you are going to write, nothing will stop you, and if you are not going to write, nothing will make you.

I love research so much that I do an enormous amount; it helps put off the moment of starting to write the story.

Oral traditions going back a long, long time, which I inherited by osmosis.

I learnt that I must never finish a book with nothing else to do.

Plus it’s not a purse, it’s called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one.

I’ll buy metaphor, but simile’s a cop-out used by scaredycats who won’t commit to anything. Simile’s for cowards.

Sometimes love is quite, lingering in the background until you least expect it. But love it always there for you

Sports can unite a group of people from different backgrounds, all working together to achieve a common goal.

Mr. McVicker instilled self-respect in those of us who were his students, because he respected us regardless of our background.

I’m a self-taught guitarist, but I have a classical music background.

Technology is usually there to let some process go on hidden in the background. For us on ‘MythBusters,’

There is a real diversity of talent and background on the A list so as to better reflect our society in all walks.

I come from both a writing background – with ‘Workaholics’ – and I also act in what I’ve written.

I am super-proud to have a sort of famous character in my background that if you’re a certain age, he was probably a part of your youth. I think that’s pretty cool.